ODASOV

This organization is based in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Walunga Village and was established to set up organizations that assisted with post-war rehabilitation and care of the many victims of war.

Part of this was the organisation “Pour le Development et l’Assistance Sociale Aux Vulnerables” – the Organisation for the Development and Assistance for the Vulnerable.

The organisation assists women and children who have been affected by the violence of war in the Congo. Many of those assisted suffer diseases, such as  HIV/AIDS and other infections as a result of rape during the war.  Many of the children assisted are orphans and some of the under-age girls may be pregnant.

ODASOV will help those children with education. Many women and young girls experience mental health disorders such as anxiety, fear, intrusive memories and flashbacks, as well as less obvious consequences such as shame guilt, difficulties in daily functioning and withdrawal. These women are isolated and ashamed,. They are then forced to find their own way and to live in poverty.  This stigma at the community level means survivors usually suffer in silence, fearing further ostracism if the ordeal is made public.

Walunga is among the town affected by a lot of violence in Democratic Republic of Congo: many women are suffering with HIV/AIDS and other STDS. Many young girls have been raped during the ward and become pregnant by an unknown person.  It is ODASOV’s purpose to help women who are survivors of sexual violence (SGBV)

There are also many widows in Walunga territory south of Bukavu.  Some of their husbands were killed during the war and others died trying to protect their wives and children from sexual violence. After they had been  systematically raped and tortured while the community was forced to watch, some of these women were disowned by their husbands. The number of women and young girls raped every day increased. One in three women was a victim of rape.

More than 1,200 Congolese are said to die every day from conflict-related causes, preventable diseases, poverty, gender-based violence and many other atrocities.

The organisation has many ongoing projects, which require assistance